Device for measuring hesghts of individuals



PATEN'IED FEB. 2, 1904.

J. MAI'ILAND. DEVICE FOR MEASURING HEIGHTS 0P INDIVIDUALS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, 1903.

' H0 MODEL.

UNrrE STATES Patented February 2, 199%.

PATENT @rrica.

DEVICE FOR MEASURiNG HEIGHTS 0F EMDEVEDUALSH SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 750,870, dated February 2, 1904.

I Application filed June 25, 1903. Serial No. 162,993, (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, J 01113 MAITLAND, a citizen of the United States,residing at Swampscott, in the county ofEsseX and State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Devices for MeasuringHeights of Individuals,

of which the following description, in=eonnec-- tion with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, like numerals on the drawingsrepresenting like parts.

' This invention has for its object to provide a novel device by whichindividuals may readily and accurately measure their height.

It comprises a suitable slotted standard having a vertical adjustablecoin-controlled measuring-arm extending outwardly through said slot andmeans to indicate at various positions of said arm the distance whichsaid arm is above the surface on which the individual stands while beingmeasured. The arm is counter-weighted and stands normally at the upperend of the slot or at its maximum distance above the surface on which'the individual being measured stands, and the measuring is done bydrawing thearm downwardly, until it strikes the head of the person whoseheight is to be obtained.

The measuring-arm is normally locked in its elevated position and canonly be released by the insertion of a coin in the coin-slot.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section through thedevice at right angles to Fig. 2. Fig. .2 is a vertical section on theline 1/ y, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is asection on the line a a, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 isa detail of theindieating mechanism.

3 designates a suitable standard which is.

hollow and which has at one side the slot 4, through which projects themeasuring-arm 5. Said arm is illustrated as being supported by a runneror shoe 6, which runs up and down connection 9, which runs over thedirectionpulley 10 at the upper end of the casing and thence under apulley 11, from which issupported a counterweight 12. The end 13 of thefiexibleconnection is secured to any suitable fixed point.

The counterWeight'lQ is sufficiently 7 -avy to maintain the arm 5 at theupper end of the slot and to return said arm to this position after ithas been lowered into contact with the head of the person beingmeasured. The arm is normally locked in its elevated position by meansof a spring-latch lever 14, sit- .uated on the interior of the casingand shown as pivotall y mounted upon the lugs 15. Said latch-lever isnormally held in operative position by some suitable means, as thespring16, but is constructed to be swung into inoperative position, soas to release the arm 5, by the insertion of a coin or other toll.

17 designates a coin-chute, into which the coin is inserted through anopening 18.

' 19 designates a suitable plunger normally held out of the way of thecoin being inserted through the opening 18 by means of a spring 20.After the coin has'been dropped through the opening 18, so as to restwithinthe chute 17, the plunger 19 is pushed forwardly by means of itshead 21 and the coin forced through the chute. The chute is so-placedthat as the coin reaches the inner end thereof it engages the lower endof the latch-lever l4 and is forced by the plunger against the lever,and swings the latter sufiicicntly to release the arm 5. The latch-levertherefore is released by means of the plunger through the interpositionof the coin. \Vhcn the latch has thus been released, the person standingonthe platform 8 may d raw the arm 5 downwardly by means of a chain 23or other pull device until the arm rests against the top of his head.The height at which the arm then stands above the platform 8 indicatesthe height of the person.

If the coin were free to move horizontally in the chute, it would followthat as soon as the person released the plunger 20 after havingpushed'it inwardly the spring 16 would tend to swing the latch intoengagement with the lever, and in so doing would crowd the ,coin backinto the chute again' This would means for retaining the coin in itsforward position, or that which it is in when the lever 14: is moved outof engagement with the arm 5.

The means herein illustratedcomprises a suitable friction-spring device25, under which the coin passes as it reaches the end of the chute andwhich bears against the com with sufficient friction to prevent it frombackward movement. Y

After the coin has been dropped into the opening 18 therefor the plungermay be pushed forward to swing the latch into its inoperative position,and then said plunger may be released and the spring 25 will prevent thebackward movement of the coin, and thus hold the latch in suchinoperative position. As the arm 5 is drawn downwardly it engages theswell or cam portion 28 upon the upper end of the laiLClT-IQVBIS 14 andthrows said lever still farther back into the dottedline position, Fig.2. Such movement of the latch-lever withdraws the supportfor the coinand allows it to drop from the chute to the lower portion of thestandard 3, where it rolls down the incline 27 into the compartment 29.

. It will thus be seen that I have provided a coin-controlled apparatusin which there is absolute control of the coin.

The indicating mechanism that I preferably employ to register thedistance which the arm 5 is above the platform 8 at its various 'posi- Itions comprises a rack 30, secured to the inside of the casing, whichmeshes with gear 81, car- .ried by a plate 32. This plate 32 is situatedon the inside of the casing and is rigidwith a second plate 52, attachedto the arm 5 and situated on the outside of the casing. Said plates havean arbor journaled therein, to the rnd of which is attached a pointer34.

The face of the plate 52 is graduated and a in such a waythat at anyadjusted position the arm 5 of the pointer will indicate the distancewhich said arm stands above the surface 8.

It will be understood that various changes may be made in theconstructional details of the device without departing in any way fromthe invention as expressed in the appended claims. 7

Havmg descrlbed my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. In adevice of the class described, a standard, a vertically-movablemeasuring-arm supported thereby, .a lock to hold said arm inoperative,acoin-chute, means to positively move said coin in said chute and thusrelease the lock, and means to retain the coin in the chute and inposition to hold the lock released until after the measuring-arm beginsits movement.

2. In a device of the class described, a standard, a vertically-movablemeasuring-arm supported thereby, a lock to hold said arm inoperative, acoin-chute, means to positively move said coin in said chute and thusrelease the lock, means to retain the coin in the chute and in positionto' hold the lock' released until after the measuring-arm has begun itsdownward movement, and means whereby the downward movement'of themeasuring-arm operates to release the coin.

3. In a device of the class described, a hollow slotted standard, avertically-movable arm projecting outwardly from said slot, a latchnormally holding said arm elevated, a coin-chute, a plunger, for forcingthe coin in the chute against the latch to throw the latter intoinoperative position, and means whereby the coin is released from thechute by the downward movement of the arm.

4. In a device of the class described, a hollow slotted standard, avertical measuringarm projecting outwardly from said slot, at pivotedlatch normally holding said arm elevated, a coin-chute, means forforcing the coin in the chute against the latch thereby to throw thelatter out of engagement with the arm, said latch having a swell whichis adapted to be engaged by the arm as the latter begins its downwardmovement, whereby the latchis removed entirely from the path of thecoin.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two sub-

